Sam Houston State LB suspended for Lamar game

The Southland Conference has suspended Sam Houston State linebacker Darius Taylor for the game Saturday at Lamar.

Taylor ranks second on the team in tackles (45) and leads the Southland in tackles for losses (11.5). He has 4.5 sacks.

From the Southland Conference:

The Southland Conference has imposed one-game suspensions for football student-athletes Darius Taylor of Sam Houston State and Kevin Roberts of Southeastern Louisiana for targeting and initiating contact to the head or neck area of defenseless players during their team’s games on Oct. 13.

Following a review by the conference’s Executive Committee, both student-athletes will be suspended for games scheduled Oct. 27, Taylor during Sam Houston State’s game at Lamar, and Roberts during Southeastern Louisiana’s game vs. Central Arkansas.

The NCAA football playing rules require conferences to automatically review video of unnecessary roughness acts that target the head or neck to determine if additional sanctions are necessary, whether or not officials call a penalty at the time.

“As called for by the NCAA playing rules, and after a review of video, the Conference has confirmed the violations as targeted hits to head and neck area of a defenseless player, thus the student-athletes are subject to the suspension,” Southland commissioner Tom Burnett said. “The Southland always strives to ensure the safety and well-being of its student-athletes and will adhere to all NCAA playing rules during competition.”